Tragedy struck on Saturday morning as a bus traveling near Muguga area in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, collided with a stalled fuel tanker, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals and leaving 10 others with serious injuries.
Police attributed the accident to poor visibility, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions at the time of the incident, which occurred around 5:30 am.
According to Ronald Kirui, the Kikuyu Police Commander, the 62-seater bus operated by Eldoret Express Company collided with the stationary tanker on the rain-soaked road.
“We had two fatalities and more than ten were rushed to hospitals. The area is now wet due to rains and we urge drivers to be careful,” Kirui stated.
More than 10 seriously injured passengers were promptly transported to Kikuyu Hospital for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Thogoto hospital mortuary. The wreckage of the vehicles involved was towed to Kikuyu Police Station as part of ongoing investigations.
Kirui revealed that traffic police have initiated inquiries to determine the exact cause of the fatal accident.
“As of now, we cannot tell what really caused the accident, but our traffic officers have embarked on investigations,” he confirmed.
The collision resulted in a significant traffic jam, prompting motorists heading towards Nairobi to seek alternative routes through Muguga villages, eventually rejoining the highway at Kinoo.
Eyewitness Simon Kimani recounted the horrifying scene, mentioning that the crash was accompanied by breaking sounds and a loud bang. Fortunately, the fuel tanker did not ignite.
“Passengers who survived started screaming for help, and the locals called the police who arrived shortly,” Kimani added.
Authorities have issued a stern reminder to road users to exercise caution, particularly during adverse weather conditions, emphasizing the importance of vigilance on the highways, especially during the rainy season.
This latest incident underscores the ongoing efforts to address road safety concerns, with over 1,000 fatalities reported in separate accidents across the country in the past three months.
